So, you now understand what adaptability is, how to see your reality, and how to acknowledge changes. It’s time to make some choices about what to do next.
Start small.
I love my plans. I have big plans, great audacious plans. I have lists of books to write, classes to create, and talks to give. Not just one or two for each of these. Dozens. Ideas are not my problem.
My problem is getting it all done.
Each of has the same amount of time in the day. I have discovered that I can shortchange my sleep or exercise for a few days and get “more” done. And, then I need more sleep and more exercise. I need to find a sustainable pace for everything I do.
So, how do I start?
I decide what the highest value work is. Then, I ask myself, “What is the smallest chunk of work I can do to make progress on that?”
I don’t assume I can do it “all” the very first time. I will do a little and make a little progress. If I can get feedback from someone else, that’s even better.
I do this with my writing, with my workshop development, and with my exercise.
The first time I decided to start walking on a regular basis, I only walked for about ten minutes at a time. Then, I built up to more time, slowly. I now walk for 20-30 minutes at a time, at a brisk pace.
I could only get there with small steps. (Pun intended!)
I write my books (articles, newsletters, everything) in 15-minute increments. That way, I focus just for 15 minutes and know I can switch—if I need to—afterwards.
I start small on everything.
If you want to experiment with something, start small. Ask yourself the question, “How little can I do to see if I’m on the right track?” Answer that question. Do that one small thing. Now, measure and see if you’re making progress.
You might need to adjust your measurements as in, Acknowledge Your Changes. That’s okay.
If you start small, you might realize you can accomplish more—over time—than you thought you could.